SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference named its football players of the week today for all games played Saturday, Sept. 28. Samford quarterback Andy Summerlin was named the Offensive Player of the Week, while Furman’s T.J. Warren was tabbed the Defensive Player of the Week. Appalachian State running back Marcus Cox earned the league’s Freshman of the Week honor. Georgia Southern placekicker Younghoe Koo was named the Special Teams Player of the Week. The players of the week are selected by the league office.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Andy Summerlin, Samford, Sr., QB, Apopka, Fla.
Senior quarterback Andy Summerlin completed 16 of 22 attempts for 327 yards and four touchdowns in Samford’s 62-23 win over Western Carolina. Summerlin’s four touchdown passes were a career high for the Apopka, Fla., native. He completed touchdown passes from 6, 52, 68 and 25 yards to three different receivers on Saturday. Summerlin ranks 12th in FCS with 1,259 passing yards through five games.
Other Nominees: Marcus Cox (Appalachian State), Darien Robinson (The Citadel), Kierre Brown (Elon), Gary Robinson (Furman), Jerick McKinnon (Georgia Southern), Jacob Huesman (Chattanooga) and Troy Mitchell (Western Carolina).
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: T.J. Warren, Furman, Fr., LB, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Freshman T.J. Warren started in place of injured linebacker Cory Magwood and anchored Furman’s defense in a 24-17 win at The Citadel. Warren recorded seven solo tackles and was credited with three tackles for loss, which resulted in minus-16 yards. The Chattanooga, Tenn., native also recorded a sack for nine yards in the victory. One week after The Citadel rushed for 453 yards at FBS Old Dominion, Warren and the Paladins limited The Citadel to just 132 yards on the ground, 186 yard below its season average entering Saturday’s game.
Other Nominees: Karl Anderson (Appalachian State), Justin Oxendine (The Citadel), Jonathan Spain (Elon), Kyle Oehlbeck (Georgia Southern), Jerry Mathis (Samford), D.J. Key (Chattanooga) and Andre Shishkin (Western Carolina).
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Marcus Cox, Appalachian State, RB, Dacula, Ga.
Appalachian State’s Marcus Cox earned the Freshman of the Week award for the second consecutive weekend as he accounted for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the Mountaineers’ 27-24 loss to Charleston Southern. Cox rushed 17 times for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The Dacula, Ga., native also caught four passes for 91 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Other Nominees: Jorian Jordan (The Citadel), B.J. Bennett (Elon), T.J. Warren (Furman), Younghoe Koo (Georgia Southern), Karel Hamilton (Samford) and C.J. Board (Chattanooga).
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Younghoe Koo, Georgia Southern, Fr., PK, Ridgewood, N.J.
Georgia Southern’s Younghoe Koo converted his third field goal attempt of the game from 26 yards out with 1:56 left in the fourth quarter to lift the Eagles to a 23-21 win over Chattanooga Saturday night. Koo was a perfect 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and added two extra points in the win. Koo, who had only one field-goal attempt on the season, made kicks from 32 and 40 yards out in addition to the 26-yarder.
Other Nominees: Drew Stewart (Appalachian State), Terrance Martin (The Citadel), David Petroni (Elon), Greg Peranich (Samford), Nick Pollard (Chattanooga) and Clark Sechrest (Western Carolina).